Staying In Steerage; April 14th 1912
They walked down to the steerage dining saloon for a late night beer. When they walked in Fabrizio and Helga were sitting at a table in the back, Rose's suitcase was at Fabrizio's feet. "Come on let's get a beer then we'll go sit with them." Jack said. He walked up to the bar where an exhausted steerage steward was waiting to take their orders. "Two beers please." Jack said.
"That all for you?" the steward asked. "Yup that's it." Jack replied. The steward nodded, he cracked open two beers and poured them in glasses. "Here" he said sliding the beers towards them. "Thanks." Jack said. They took their beers and started walking towards Fabrizio and Helga.
"Do you think Cal will come looking for me?" Rose asked. Jack shrugged "All he has to do is ask for my room, but he doesn't know it's under Sven Gunderson, remember I told you me and Fab won those two Swedish guys tickets? The Swedish men from the steerage party were Bjorn Gunderson and his cousin Olaus they're related to the two guys we beat in poker...and again I doubt Cal would know to ask for Gunderson." he explained.
Rose felt relieved "Oh good I hope he never finds me!" she said. Jack chuckled "God I hate him too, what a jerk." he said. They both started cracking up. As they approached the table Fabrizio and Helga were whispering and laughing. "Hey!" Jack said. They both looked up. "Oh hey Jack!" Fabrizio smiled. Helga winked at Rose and pointed to her suitcase. "Thanks." Rose mouthed.
"You a' wanna join us?" Fabrizio asked. Jack nodded "Yeah sure!" he pulled out the chair next to him for Rose. Fabrizio looked at Rose "So Helga tells me to put your suitcase in our room?" he asked. Rose nodded "Yes, but please don't tell anyone or Cal will find me...I'm going to stay with Jack, I'll hide in a closet if I have to!" she said. Fabrizio chuckled "Is okay you stay with Jack in his bunk."
Jack licked the foam off the top of his beer. Rose giggled. "What, I like licking beer foam!" Jack laughed back. They both started laughing. Fabrizio looked at Helga "Helga, they're pazzo!" he said. She giggled, "Ja."
Fabrizio and Helga finished their beers. "Jack, I'm a' gonna go walk Helga back to her cabin I see you later." Fabrizio said. "Okay see ya in a minute!" Jack said.
Jack gulped down his beer, Rose was staring at him. "What, you think a third class guy can't drink?" Jack asked. Rose giggled "Oh no I know you can drink!" she replied. "But why did you gulp it down?" Rose asked, finishing her own beer.
"I want to spy on Fabrizio saying goodnight to Helga, he told me he was going to try and kiss her tonight!" Jack explained. Rose giggled mischeviously "You mean like...their first kiss?" she asked. Jack was grinning "Yup!"
Rose giggled "Okay let's go!" she said. Jack grinned wider "Come on! But we have to be really quiet!" he said. They tiptoed out of the dining saloon. When they got back to the G-deck hallway Rose asked "Do you even know where Helga's cabin is?" Jack shrugged "I know it's somewhere down here and we'll probably see them standing outside." he said.
They continued tiptoeing down the long steerage corridors of G-deck. "Shh come on, I think it's this way.." Jack said, waving for Rose to follow him. Just then they saw Fabrizio and Helga standing outside. "Oh my gosh Rose here! Look!" Jack whispered. They ducked behind a wall. Rose accidentally stubbed her toe loudly. "Shh!" Jack whispered. "Sorry!" Rose whispered back.
Jack peeked around the corner. Fabrizio was standing directly in front of Helga looking into her eyes, they were holding hands. Fabrizio appeared to be saying something, Helga was smiling. "I think he's gonna do it Rose!" Jack whispered. "I know!" she whispered back.
All of a sudden Tommy Ryan came up behind them, he had been in the smoking room. "What are we doin' Jack-o?" Tommy asked. "SHH!" Jack pulled Tommy down with them. "Don't you remember Fabrizio saying he was gonna try and kiss Helga for the first time tonight?" Jack asked. "Doin' a little spying I see...love it!" Tommy chuckled. Jack laughed.
They peeked around the corner again, Fabrizio began to slightly lean forward. He had his hand on Helga's face, caressing it gently. Tommy strained to hear what they were saying. "Helga, I love you." Fabrizio said. Helga smiled "Oh Fabrizio, jeg elsker deg!" she replied. Tommy turned around "He said he loves her!" Jack stifled his own laughter, "He's gonna do it!" he said.
Fabrizio began to lean forward when Helga threw herself into him first, she kissed him. Tommy and Jack's mouths dropped, "Holy shite...didn't see that comin'!" Tommy said. Rose smiled "That might be the sweetest thing I've ever seen!" she said. Tommy glanced at Jack "Girls..." he said. They both laughed. "What it's adorable! So romantic!" Rose gushed. "My point...exactly." Tommy laughed.
Tommy looked around the corner again, they were still kissing. "I guess Helga's been waitin' for this, I thought Fabri was gonna kiss her!" he laughed. Jack shrugged "Guess so!" he replied. "Yeah don't hold back Helga!" Tommy chuckled. "Oh she isn't!" Jack chuckled back.
Finally Helga broke away and opened the door to her cabin, she blew him a kiss and shut the door behind her. Fabrizio stood outside for a minute, he looked like he had just gotten the wind knocked out of him. He took a deep breath and grinned, then he began walking in their direction. "HURRY GO!" Jack whispered.
He, Rose, and Tommy ran down the hallway towards their cabins. Jack and Rose were halfway to Jack's cabin when Fabrizio called after them. "Oh shit!" Jack said. They spun around. "Very funny you guys! I know you spy on me and Helga, I can hear you whole time!" Fabrizio chuckled.
Jack laughed "Sorry ragazzo mio, we just wanted to see!" Fabrizio smiled "I know is okay!" he said. They walked to the door of their cabin, Jack handed Rose her suitcase. Fabrizio opened the door, "Not much but it's cozy." he said. Jack flipped on the light, Bjorn Gunderson woke up and rubbed his eyes. "Sorry Bjorn we didn't know you guys were sleeping!" Jack said.
Bjorn squinted in the bright light. Rose set her suitcase on the floor. "Rose, this is Bjorn Gunderson...you met him before I think." Jack said. Rose nodded and shook his hand "Oh yes, the steerage party." Bjorn said "Ja, du nej tala svenska." Rose looked at Jack. "He remembers you don't speak Swedish." Jack said. Rose nodded "Oh, yes that's right I remember!" Jack pointed to the other man who was asleep below Bjorn, "That's Olaus, Bjorn's cousin." he said. Rose smiled.
Fabrizio climbed into his bunk, he couldn't stop grinning. Jack looked at Bjorn "Helga kissed him." he explained. Bjorn cracked a smile "Ah!" he said. They both chuckled. Fabrizio said "I a' swear she's an angel!" Jack laughed "I don't know Fabri, maybe she is." Fabrizio rolled over in his bed to face the wall. "She's an angel to me..." he mumbled into his pillow. Jack grinned at Bjorn.
Bjorn laid back down as well and pulled his covers up again. Rose looked at Jack "Is there anywhere I can change?" she asked. Jack opened the door and pointed down the hall "Yeah the steerage ladies room." he replied. "Unless someone's in there." he quickly added. Rose looked confused "You share bathrooms?"she asked. "Yes." Jack replied simply.
Rose walked down the hall to the bathroom. She knocked, remembering what Jack said. Nobody answered so she walked in and locked the door. She took off her frilly first class gown and then tried to undo her corset. "Stupid corset!" she said frustrated. She couldn't get it off, just then there was a knock at the door. She opened it, it was Helga's mother. She was staring at her like she was crazy. Rose blushed "Oh hello Mrs. Dahl, um...long story." she said. Mrs. Dahl nodded.
"Actually I'm stuck would you mind?" Rose asked, slightly embarrassed. Mrs. Dahl smiled and began to untie the corset, a few minutes later it was loose and Rose could easily slip it off. She stepped outside so Mrs. Dahl could use the bathroom, and went back in when she was done. She finished changing and walked back to Jack's cabin.
When she got back Jack was sitting up reading a newspaper, the light was still on. "Hey Rose can you hit the light?" Jack asked. Rose turned the lights off and got into Jack's bunk with him. "I'm glad you're here Rose." Jack said. Rose snuggled into him "Me too." she replied. Jack kissed her forehead, "I love you." he said. "I love you too." she replied.
As they fell asleep they could hear Fabrizio mumbling above them. "Helga..." "Oh Helga you are my angel..." "Grazie signorina you are a' such good kisser..." Jack and Rose stifled their laughter.
Rose was so glad to be happily and safely in Jack's arms, now she just prayed Cal wouldn't find her.